Multiple exposure optical recording apparatus

Abstract

A method of composing pictures of objects comprises the steps of exposing a frame of a record medium such as a frame of a roll of film or a target in a television camera via a camera lens while masking a portion of the field from exposure by a first mask disposed in front of the lens. The field or frame of the record medium is then re-exposed while masking a previously unmasked portion of the field or frame. The foregoing is accomplished by apparatus in one instance comprising a camera having means for transporting film, a lens, first and second masks serving to block light to complementary portions of the film, a light shade supported by the lens to sequentially support the masks in front of the lens at a distance sufficient to inhibit exposure of complementary portions of the film.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for composing pictures of objects comprising a camera having means for transporting film with frames each of given size therethrough, a lens serving to direct light onto said film, first and second mask assemblies serving to block light to complementary portions of a frame of said film, said first and second mask assemblies each having a size corresponding to said given size of said frames of said film, and means serving to dispose each of said first and second mask assemblies for use in succession in front of said lens comprising a tubular sun shade mounted on said camera with one end surrounding said lens and having an axial length substantially equal to that distance serving to maintain substantially a one-to-one ratio between said size of said mask assemblies and said given size of said frames of said film to inhibit exposure of complementary portions of a frame to said film and to facilitate the provision of substantially indistinguishable demarcation between the areas of the recorded images of said objects recorded at different positions on said film. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frames of said film are generally square in configuration, said mask assemblies are generally square in configuration, and said one end of said tubular sun shade has a cylindrical configuration, the other end of said sun shade having a generally square configuration with a size corresponding in substantially one-to-one ratio to the size of said mask assemblies. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one end of said sun shade is provided with means for removably mounting said sun shade about said lens of said camera, said mask assemblies include a supporting assembly and said other end of said sun shade and said supporting assembly of each of said mask assemblies are provided with interlocking mounting means for removably mounting said mask assemblies on said other end of said sun shade. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other end of said sun shade lies in a plane extending normal to said axial length thereof, and said sun shade comprises two tubular portions removably mounted to each other along a plane intermediate said ends and extending normal to said axial length thereof. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus for composing pictures of objects comprising a camera having a recording medium of given size therein, a lens serving to direct light onto said recording medium, first and second mask assemblies serving to block light to complementary portions of said recording medium, said first and second mask assemblies each having a size corresponding in substantially one-to-one ratio with said given size of said recording medium, and means comprising a tubular member mounted on said camera coaxial with said lens with one end thereof surrounding said lens for selectively disposing each of said first and second mask assemblies for use in succession in front of said lens at substantially that distance serving to maintain said substantially one-to-one ratio between said size of said mask assemblies and said given size of said recording medium to facilitate the provision of substantially indistinguishable demarcation between the areas of the recording medium exposed through each of said mask assemblies a portion of the axial length of said tubular member at the other end thereof having a configuration and size corresponding in substantially one-to-one ratio with said given size of said recording medium. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein means are provided for mounting said mask assemblies at said other end of said tubular member with a removable interlocking fit. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tubular member is divided into two portions intermediate said ends thereof and means are provided for mounting said two portions to each other which means is substantially identical to said means for mounting said mask assemblies at said other end of said tubular member with a removable interlocking fit.